Gas clamp for oil-well casings



Max. 13, 1923.

w. CANFIELD.

GAS CLAMP FOR OIL WELL CASINGS Filed Apr.

12, 1922 2 sheets-sheet l WVENTOR Q//a 6 k k/ g BY 4 ATTORNEY-5.

Mar.13,1923.

W. CANFIELD 7 GAS CLAMP FOR OIL WELL CASINGS 2 sheets-sheet 2 Filed Apr. 12, 1922 INVENTOR.

#2 /Zac@ 621 4 L B Y 4.0m? Maw/2s ATTORNEYJ.

' outer or anchored Iii:

WALLACE GARFIELD, OF KERTO, CAHFO 1 GAS CLAMP FOB OIL-WELL CASINGS.

Application filed April 12,

To an whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WALLACE CANFIELD, a citizen of the United States, residing at erto, in the county of Kern and State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in GasClamps for Oil- Well Casings, of which the following is a specification. I

My invention relates to the well-drilling art and particularly to devices and appliances usually termed gas-clamps, the purpose of which is to shut off the space between the string of casing and the inner or working string of casing.

In drilling oil wells in certain localities. where flowing wells are expected, it is desirable to provide against a blow-out from the space between the two casing strings, this object being attained by the so-called gas-clamps which, by closing said space, serve the purpose.

The object of my invention is to provide a device or appliance. of this class, which is dependable, is easy to adjust, and is efiective.

To this end, my invention consists in the novel hinged gas-clamp which I shall hereinafter fully describe by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which- Fig. 1 is a top-plan view of my hinged gasclamp, showing it opened out in'extended position.

Fig. 2 is an elevation of the same looking at it from the inside.

Fig. 3 is an elevation of the bolt receiving extremity of one of the-clamp members,

showing the fitting of the bolt thereto.

Figs. 4 and 5 are views of the arcuate sections of the packing to be fitted in the upper and lower groove seats of the clamp-memers.

Fig. 6 is a top plan view clamp showing it closed.

Fig. 7 is a-vertical sectional view, partly in elevation of my clamp showing it applied to the inside and outside casings to close the of my hinged space between them.

1 and 2 are symmetrical, complemental clamp-members, with arcuate faces substantially semicircular in extent. Each member is formed with end extensions, those designated by 1' and 2 being vertically slotted to receive between them the hinge-linkB to which they are pivoted by the rivets 4. In the other extensions 1." and 2 of the members 1 and 2, respectively, are made locking 1922. Serial No. 551,829.

seats 5 and 6. The seat 5 is T-shaped to receive the T-head 7 of the locking bolt 7 one side of the seat being left open as shown at 5', in Fig. 3, to permit the bolt head to be readily fitted to place. The other seat .6 is a pla1n groove to receive the bolt shank.

7" is anut on the bolt. It will now be seen, by reference to Fig. 6, that the clampmembers may be turned about their hinge link 3150 a closed position, and secured by the locking bolt 7 and its nut 7".

In the upper edge of'the arcuate face of each clamp-member is made a groove in which is seated a section of packing'll, said groove being so shaped .as to form a base equal in width to and fully: supporting the packing, as seen in Figs. 2 and 7 and a relatively narrower top to permit the partial exposure of the upper surface of the packlng. In the lower surface of each clampmember, exterior to and concentric with its face,.is made a groove in which is seated a section of packing 12, the lower surface of I which isexposed as seen in'Figs. 2 and 6.

Each clamp-member, between the inner side of the packing 12 and its arcuate faceis tapered downwardly to form a guide portion 13.

In the clamp member 1 on its inner surface at each side of its .arcuate face is made a socket to seat a block of packings 14, the surface of said block projecting slightly from the seat as seen in Figs. 1 and 6, its upper nner edge forming a joint against the pack- 111g 11 and its lower outer edge. joining the packing 12.

the application of my hinged gas-clamp to the well casings will be seen. 8 is the string of inner or working casing, and 8' is a collar connecting two lengths of said string. 10 is the outer or anchored casing with a collar 10'.

The collar 8' collar 10 bears portion13 lying in the space betweenthe two casings; and the packing block 14, forming a joint with the packings 11 and 12 and sealing the inner faces of the clamp members as seen in Fig. 6.

To apply the device,

on the packing 12; the guide In Fig. 7, to which reference is now made,

after its parts are assembled and the several packings driven working string of casing is then. set down in the outer casing 10. The tapered guide portion 13 will bring the bottom packing 1E2,

accurately into contact with the collar a of said outer casing, and will alsoserve to hold the clamp together until the locking nut 7" is set up, thus efiectively shutting oil the space between the two casings Due to the fact that all the packings are well supported on all sides when in use, they may be used a number ct times and not renewed each time the clamp is used, as with ordinary gas clamps. The gas-clamps in common use comprise two halves bolted together at each end with gaskets between them and with a groove in the bottomto fit the collar of the outer casing, a ring of packing being inserted after the gas clamp is in place. The bottoms of these clamps are fiat and the packing must be guided on top of the lower collar which is sometimes very difficult when the working string of casing is heavy and hangs slightly out of line. The packing at the top is wrapped around the working string of casing under a collar and set in a groove on top of the clamp.

To put on and adjust a gas clamp of this kind, that is, place the gaskets and packing, bolt together and guide into place, takes considerable time often as much as thirty iinutes. ll hen an actual blow out occurs it is often impossible to place this type of gas clamp on account of the gas and oil coming from between the strings of easing interfering so greatly with the work. At such times the working string oi pipe may be frozen up or the well actually lost. But my hinged gas clamp can be placed on the working string of casing in a few seconds even when considerable gas-and oil are coming from between the two strings and when set down the packing and gaskets are automatically dranwn into place and the space between the two strings of casing effectively sealed. The clamp thus easy to adjust dependable,

and is effective and I claim: v

1. A. gas-clamp for well-casing, comprising apair of complemental clamp-members adapted to embrace the inner casing; a hinge connection between said clamp-meml are adapting them be lit-ted to said casing; locking men ld them on the of coin adapted to hear on on a collar to close the other packclamp members and a collar of the inner casing and of the outer casing, respectively, space between said casings; and

ing members forming joints with said first named packing members to seal the space between the clamp-members.

3. A gas-clamp for well-casings comprising a pair of complement-al clamp-members adapted to embrace the inner casing; a hinge connection between said clamp-members adapting them to befitted to said casing; a lock bolt pivotally mounted in the tree extremity of one of said clamp-members and adapted to engage the tree extremity of the other of said clamp=members; a nut on said bolt to set it in locked position; and packing members carried by said clampmembers and adapted to bear on a collar of the inner casing and on a collar of the outer casing respectively, to close the space between said casings.

4h A gas-clamp for well-casings comprising a pair of complemental clamp members adapted to embrace the inner casing: a hinge connection between said clamp-members adapting them to be fitted to said casing; a lock bolt pivotally mounted in the tree'extremity'ot one of said clamp-members and adapted to engage the tree extremity of the other of said clamp-members; a nut on said bolt to set it in locked position; packing members carried by said clamp-members and adapted to bear on a collar of the-inner casing and on a collar respectively, to close the space between said casings; and other packing members form joints with said first named packing members to seal the space between the clamp members 5. A gas-clamp for well-casings comprising a pair of complemental clamp-members adapted to embrace the inner casing; hinge connection between said clamp-members adapting them to be fitted to said a locking member to hold them o the casing; a packing member seated in per edge of the clamping tace of each clampmember and adapted to on a coir. the inner c. ng; and a packing s ted in the under side of each cler and s l ed to bear on a c v space bet of the outer casingcasing;

' tremity of one 0 asses ed to bear on a' collar of the outer casing, whereby the space between said casings is closed; and other packing members seated in the inner face of one of said clamp-members between and forming joints with said first named packing members, to seal the space between the clamp-members.

7. A gas-clamp for well-casings comprising a pair of complemental clamp-members adapted to embrace the inner casing; a hinge connection between said clamp-members adapting them to be fitted to said casing; a lock bolt pivotall mounted in the free exsaid clamp members and adapted to engage the free extremity of the other of said clamp-members; a nut on said bolt to set it in locked position; a packing member seated in the upper edge of the clamping face of each clamp-member and adapted to bear on a collar of the inner casing; a packing member seated in the under side of each clamp-member and adapted to bear on a collar of the outer casing, whereby the space between said casings is closed: and other packing members seated in the inner face of one of said clamp-members between and forming joints with said first named packing members, to seal the space between the clamp-members.

8. A gas-clamp for well-casings compris- 1ng a pair of complemental clamp-members adapted to embrace the inner casing, said members having downwardly tapered lower portions adapted to guide them into the outer casing; a hinge connection between said clamp-members adapting them to be fitted to said casing; a locking member to hold them on the casing; and packing members carried by said clamp members and adapted to bear on a collar of the inner casing and on a collar of the outer casing, respectively, to close the space between said casings.

' 9. A gas-clamp for well-casings comprising a pair of .complemental clamp-members adapted to embrace the inner casing, said members having downwardly tapered lower portions adapted to guide them into the outer casing; a hinge connection between said clamp-members 'adapt'in them to be fitted to said casing; a look It ivotally mounted in the free extremity 0 one of said clamp-members and adapted to' engage the free extremity of the other of said clampmem rs; a nut on said bolt to set it in locked position; a'packing member seated in the upper edge of the clamping face of each clamp-member v and adapted to bear on a collar of the inner casing; a packing member seated in the under side of each clamp-memher and adapted 'to bear on a collar of the outer casing, whereby the space between said casings is closed; and other packmg members seated in the inner face of one of said clamp-members between and forming joints with said first named packing members, to seal the space between the clamp-members.

In testimony whereof I-have signed my name to this specification.

WLACE CANFIE. 

